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According to author of her life inspired, couples should always understand that communication is key to any meaningful relationship, which is why some conversations shouldn't be thrown to the back seat.

These conversations are not so sexy but they are absolutely necessary if you want to have an amazing sex life with your partner.

Compiled for BlogHer, here are a few of these important conversations you should have with your partner:

<h2>1. Talk about how you will share household chores:</h2>

After a day of playing the role of housekeeper, chef, chauffeur, and businesswoman, sometimes I’m just too exhausted to play the vixen in the bedroom too.

But how do we get our partners to understand that a little help around the house and with the kids would a go a long way in getting us in the mood?

Dr. Tartt suggests having a conversation about the division of household chores. “When you have that conversation with men and they understand the end game, I can’t tell you how many men are cool with doing chores,” says Dr. Tartt.

“Because men are problem solvers. If you give us the power to solve the problem, we’ll take our daughters to girl scouts, we’ll drop the kids off at choir rehearsal, we’ll do whatever we need to do to get to the end game.”

TRY THIS: Talk to your partner about specific things that he can do to help out with the kids and other household chores. Explain that the shorter your to-do list, the more likely you are to be in the mood for sex.

Being too tired is a huge reason that couples have less sex. But Dr. Tartt says that shouldn’t be the case.

“We should not be too tired on a consistent basis to make love,” says Dr. Tartt.

“If your relationship ends and you start dating again, you are not going to use that excuse with someone new.

You’re going to rise to the occasion.” (TRUTH!) He also says that we need to put our relationships and our families above our careers.

“We have to set up our careers to actually give us a chance to have enough energy to spend quality and intimate time not only with our wives and husbands, but with our kids, our friends, and our families.”

I promise when we die, we are not going to say, ‘Man, I wish I would have put in another hour of overtime.’ ”

TRY THIS: Talk about ways you might be able to limit the amount of hours that you work or how you can alter your work schedule to spend more time together.

Dr. Tartt also says we should schedule more romantic getaways to an island destination, a bed and breakfast, or a spa to change the culture and add excitement to the relationship.

“It’s hard not to be in the mood in Hawaii,” says Dr. Tartt.

<h2>3. Talk about what relieves your stress:</h2>

Last week, we talked about how stress is a desire killer.

We spend so much time working, taking care of our kids and everyone else that we don’t have anything left to take care of ourselves.

“We don’t even have time to feel sexy. It becomes chore number 10 in a day,” says Dr. Tartt.

“That turns a lot of men and women off because they realize it’s not something spontaneous, or something that has a lot of energy or excitement. It’s kinda like hurry up and get this over with so I can get some rest.”

In addition to taking steps to decrease your stress level, there are also ways that your partner can help you de-stress.

Dr. Tartt suggests having a conversation about what relieves your stress. Do you need a few minutes of quiet time when you get home?

Maybe you need to watch something funny, or take a shower. “If we’re not on the same page and you try to initiate lovemaking before I’m ready, you can see how that can lead to a sense of rejection, where if you just waited 15 more minutes… we’re good,” explains Dr. Tartt.

TRY THIS: Have a conversation about what helps you relax. Is it a shoulder or foot rub, or maybe it’s enjoying a quiet cup of coffee before your day begins.

Together you can come up with ways to add these de-stressors to your daily routine.

Also, try carving out a few minutes each day to “do you” even if it’s just some quiet time in the bathroom. Once I was so desperate for some alone time that I actually hid under my bed!

<h2>4. Talk about what stimulates you:</h2>

Earlier, I mentioned that sex starts in the mind. And most times a thoughtful gesture like a “thinking about you” text, an unexpected phone call during the day, or a gentle touch when you get home are all simple romantic gestures that get your mind in the mood for sex.

Dr. Tartt believes it is very important to let your partner know how this type of foreplay stimulates you. “If there’s foreplay before you get into the actual act, that would make a lot of women and men ready, or “ready-er” because you are speaking the same love language,” explains Dr. Tartt.

TRY THIS:&nbsp; Dr. Tartt suggests that you have a conversation to rate where you are in terms of intimacy and satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10.

Talk about things you would like to do and what you need to stay stimulated and interested in the relationship. Dr. Tartt says you should have this conversation every 90 days.

According to Dr. Tartt, research shows that the average person has a new erotic fantasy every 90 days.

You and your partner need to be able to communicate openly about your deepest fantasies and desires or they might end up being shared with someone else.

“When you see people having affairs and on facebook doing certain things, it’s not because they’re bad people, it’s because they’re searching for their new fantasy,” says Dr. Tartt.

“If they don’t feel like they can talk to their partner, if they don’t have that open language, you can see how that can become a problem.” (Dr. Tartt dropped so many jewels on this subject, I’ll have to share them with you in another post!)

Talking specifically about what turns you on, understanding each other’s love language, and experimenting with new things can be enough to evoke new excitement into the relationship.

TRY THIS:&nbsp; Dr. Tartt recommends getting a copy of the book, What Makes Love Last.

The book has a list of questions that will encourage you and your partner to really talk about what you like and what you need to keep you sexually satisfied.

The book asks questions like: Would you like for me to touch you more slowly or faster? What type of foreplay do you like best? What doesn’t work for you?

“When we start asking those types of questions, then we know what to do,” says Dr. Tartt. “But how many couples talk like that?” I know we don’t, do you?

But then I was curious to know what to do if you partner isn’t interested in trying anything new. Or what if it’s you that believes it is too freaky and taboo to indulge in these sorts of things? Then what?

Dr. Tartt says it’s all in how you approach the conversation. “When you say, ‘Hey, would you rather me tell you how I feel, or would you rather I keep secrets from you?’ he or she will say ‘No, I don’t want you to keep secrets, I want you to keep it real.’ “

Dr. Tartt continues, “Then you’re able to talk about it as a couple.” Ultimately, you have to decide if you want to keep doing things the same old way or if you are open to trying something new and different. Even if you don’t agree, at least the subject will be out in the open.

“It’s not what you talk about that is going to kill your relationship…it’s what you don’t talk about,” says Dr. Tartt. Wow! Let’s read that again—It’s not what you talk about that is going to kill your relationship…it’s what you don’t talk about.

Between the TV, the iPad, and our smart phones in the bedroom, I feel like technology has become the third person in our relationship. You too?

Surely this behavior can’t be helping our sex lives or our relationships. Dr. Tartt agrees that time spent on technology is time spent actively ignoring time to connect with our partners.

“When we have this habit of spending more time with our phones and work and emails than one another, you are setting your partner up to get real human interaction somewhere else,” Dr. Tartt says.

TRY THIS:&nbsp; Dr. Tartt recommends setting aside 30 minutes each day to unplug and spend time lovemapping with your partner.

What is lovemapping you ask? My new favorite word! I just like saying it. It’s so intriguing, isn’t it? Ok, so back to the definition. Dr. Tartt says, “Love mapping is what you did when you first met—you would email, you would call on your lunch hour, you would ask about dreams, places he wanted to travel, funniest moments—all those early conversations in the relationship,” explains Dr. Tartt.

“The research shows that you must continue to have those conversations regularly to keep the relationship connected.” But after so many years together, I feel like I’ve heard all the stories and know just about everything about him, right? Wrong.

Dr. Tartt explained that over the years, ambitions change, dreams change, and the answer to the questions that I knew years ago might have a different answer today.

“There are a lot of couples where their best friend knows more about them than their husbands or wives,” says Dr. Tartt.

“Why? Because they are not talking like this—which is why you hear couples say, ‘I love you but I don’t feel like I know&nbsp;&nbsp;you.’ “

We stop talking to our partners and don’t realize that what they want in life has changed as they have evolved.

<h2>7. Talk about how to validate each other:</h2>

How often does your partner compliment you or thank you for supporting him? Probably not enough according to Dr. Tartt.

“This is the main thing that men do not do enough.” Dr. Tartt says, “We have to share fondness and admiration verbally, we have to compliment our wives.” Men need to be validated as well.

“The number one complaint from men is that they feel underappreciated in their relationships,” says Dr. Tartt.

Both men and women need to hear how they are loved and appreciated in order to feel good about the relationship.

On a personal note, about a year or so ago, I decided to stop focusing on what my husband did that got on my nerves and focus all my attention on all of the things that I loved about him. T

urns out that list more than outweighed the things that annoyed me.

And when I focused on what I loved, I felt closer to him and more attracted to him.

And because I was more attracted to him, he was more attracted to me.

Choosing to view him through a different lens and letting him know how much I appreciate him has definitely make our relationship stronger.

TRY THIS:&nbsp;Have a conversation about how important it is to fill each other’s buckets with compliments and kind words on a regular basis. Make an effort to compliment or thank your partner for at least one thing every day.

<h2>8. Talk about other reasons that you might not be in the mood for sex:</h2>

If you’ve tried all of the above and you or your partner are still not in the mood for sex, something else might be going on.

While it can be tough to have an honest conversation that might lead to hurt feelings, Dr. Tartt says you should try the 5:1 ratio approach to ease into a difficult topic.

“For every negative, there has to be 5 positives,” says Dr. Tartt.

“So you could say, ‘Hey, you do a great job with the kids, you make sure that I’m taken care of, our home is a place of peace, you’re a life coach for my dreams, I appreciated the time we spend together.

But something that’s important to me is fitness and health and one of the things that would take my physical attraction to you from a 9 to a 10 (notice I said from a 9 to a 10) is if you could take off a little weight.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/relationships-weddings/6-little-things-that-make-relationships-last-long/nm5q2dj">6 little things that make relationships last long</a>

And then you can tell me where I am body wise.’ “ Couples that stay together have these kinds of real conversations. “But if you’re not talking about it, you can’t fix it,” says Dr. Tartt.

A dip in you or your partner’s libido does not mean you aren’t still attracted to each other. Unbeknownst to you, there are health issues that could be putting a damper on your desire.

Lack of sex drive is a side effect for many medications that treat pre-existing health conditions like depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

TRY THIS:&nbsp;Have a conversation about what’s really causing you or your partner not to want sex. Talk to your gynecologist about any discomfort or changes in your body and your low libido.

Make sure your partner does the same. Once you are sure that it’s not a biological issue, seek the help of a therapist to get to the root of what’s really going on.

“Couples have this idea that they are going to be blamed or made to feel like they’re doing something wrong,” explains Dr. Tartt. “Couples therapists don’t take sides. You come in as a team and we talk about how to build up the team.”

These conversations are not so sexy but they are absolutely necessary if you want to have an amazing sex life with your partner.

8 important conversations you should have before having s*x

In Nigerian weddings, marriage is very important in Igbo (Ibo) culture and the traditional rites attached to the union aren't taken lightly by families involved.

Traditional marriages of these people from the south-east part of Nigeria are deemed very festive, colorful and are divided into four main parts.

READ: <a href="http://pulse.ng/weddings/how-to-plan-wedding-simple-step-by-step-guide-id4773246.html">Check out these amazing ideas for your big day</a>

1. Marriage inquiry known as 'Iku aka' or 'Iju ese'

2. Seeking consent from the bride-to-be’s extended family known traditionally as 'Umunna'

3. Bride price negotiation and payment known as 'Ime ego'

4. Wine-carrying ceremony by the bride known as 'Igba Nkwu Nwanyi' and 'Idu Uno'

All these must be completed and the bride’s people must be satisfied before the groom can take away his new wife home.

1. Marriage inquiry known as ‘Iku aka’ or ‘Iju ese’

Unfortunately, tradition doesn’t recognize the modern kind of proposal where the man gets down on one knee and proposes to his girlfriend.&nbsp;The first step of the Igbo traditional wedding rites is the groom visiting the bride’s immediate family accompanied by his father or the eldest member of his family if his dad is deceased. Usually, they are meant to show up empty handed because ‘Iku aka’ or ‘Iju ese’ simply means ‘coming to knock or inquire’ but groom and his family are free to take some hot drinks and kola nut as goodwill.

The groom’s father does the talking; he introduces himself to the bride’s parents or guardian and explains the purpose of his visit the officially announces his son’s interest in marrying their daughter. The bride-to-be is then called out by her parents and asked if she knows her suitor and would want to marry. Her response then determines if they would proceed to telling the extended family and the bride price negotiation.

READ: <a href="http://pulse.ng/weddings/bride-and-groom-10-things-no-one-will-tell-you-about-your-wedding-day-id4762765.html">10 things no one will tell you about your wedding day</a>

2. Seeking consent from the bride-to-be’s extended family known traditionally as Umunna

After the first visit, the bride’s family begin investigation on the groom’s family, they check their background and history (hereditary illnesses, bad behaviors, divorce, fertility etc. are all checked).

This investigation also determines the progress of the next meeting between both families as the bride’s people will then decide if the groom-to-be is good enough to take care of their daughter and their future children. It is also assumed that groom’s family must have carried out similar investigation prior to the first visit.

The next meeting will be between the groom’s family (they can be as much as 20 people) and the bride’s extended family popularly known as Umunna. This meeting is important because the groom’s people have to restate their interest in marrying from their family, they first have to give the groom their consent and the bride gives the final consent, dates for the traditional wedding will be set and bride price list will be sent out. In Igboland, tradition states that the groom take a few gifts along (such as kola nuts, palm wine, beer, soft drinks, tobacco, snuff and a goat). This will be shared between the groom and bride’s family.

After the second visit and consent has been given by the bride’s extended family, the groom’s family can now proceed with the bride price negotiation and payment known traditionally as ‘Ime ego, the groom’s family ask for the engagement gifts list, this differs slightly from place to place in Igboland.

The money paid for the bride price is significantly small and can go for as low as N30, it isn’t an indication of the bride’s worth. The extra gifts to be brought make up the larger part of the bride price. The groom’s family then presents all they’ve bought to the bride’s family on an agreed date or on the day of the wine-carrying ceremony.

Ime ego can be a hectic process between both families with a lot of begging from the groom’s side and a lot of bragging from the bride’s side. The bride’s family starts to list their daughter’s accomplishments and what the groom-to-be will gain by marrying her. There are going to be lots of back and forth between both families till a set amount is reached.

READ: <a href="http://pulse.ng/weddings/banky-w-10-steps-for-planning-the-perfect-proposal-like-a-superstar-id4735386.html">10 steps for planning the perfect proposal like a superstar</a>

4. Wine-carrying ceremony by the bride known as Igba Nkwu Nwanyi and Idu Uno

This is the last and final rite done by the groom’s family. After the date for the official wine carrying has been set, the ceremony is done at the bride’s home and her family prepares a large feast (depending on their pockets) for the groom’s family coming and invited guests, they also hire a live band and maybe traditional dancers to make the ceremony interesting.

Usually, the bride-to-be is dressed in the traditional Igbo wedding attire which include a blouse, a double wrapper, a red coral bead necklace and a big head tie known as ‘Ichafu’ or a bead round her head.

The groom is expected to be accompanied by a larger party this time (friends included) and bring along with him the bride price list. He must present the list along with the required gifts to the Umunna before the ceremony begins.

The highlight of Igba Nkwu Nwanyi&nbsp;is when the bride in public points out the man she wants to marry. The bride’s father or eldest uncle (if her dad is deceased) prays traditionally for the bride, blessing her marriage in future, then he gives her a cup of palm wine (it is usually placed in a gourd) to find the man she intends to spend the rest of her life with.

The bride along with her maidens then goes to find her groom who is hidden in the crowd, as she searches for him with the wine in her hand; she is beckoned by other men and the groom’s friends seated in the crowd to give them her wine. After searching him out, she then offers him the drink in her hand kneeling down.

If he takes a sip, it signifies to the crowd that he is her husband, acceptance means they are officially man and wife. The groom and bride then dance to meet her parents who then pronounce blessings on them. The merriment begins and the couple is given gifts by friends and family.

Idu Uno comes immediately after Igba Nkwu, at this stage; the bride visits the groom’s home for the first time and she goes along with a maiden or her sister who isn’t married to keep her company.

Before she begins her journey, the bride’s family gifts her with items she’ll need to start her new home, these include cooking utensils, bed-sheets, suitcases, boxes, sewing machine, bed, pillowcases, plates, clothes and other essential things she’ll need to begin their new life together. The bride’s sister or family can go back home after a few days to give feedback to her people.

Unfortunately, tradition doesn’t recognize the modern kind of proposal where the man gets down on one knee and proposes to his girlfriend

Igba Nkwu: All you need to know about the Igbo traditional marriage

In case you are wondering what this law is about, here are 5 things to know about the compulsory polygamy law in the small African country known as Eritrea.

In a world where polygamy is shunned in some parts, it has become legal to practice polygamy in other parts.

In case you are wondering what this law is about, here are 5 things to know about the compulsory polygamy law in this small African country:

1. It's now a crime for men to practise monogamy in Eritrea.

2. It was learnt that mandatory polygamy was put in place by the country's government, a memo was circulated by activists who alleged that the government asked men to marry two wives due to a shortage of menfolk caused by casualties during the civil war with Ethiopia.

READ: <a href="http://pulse.ng/weddings/wedding-planning-marriage-traditions-of-different-countries-in-africa-id4401085.html">Marriage traditions of different countries in Africa</a>

3. Citizens in other countries like Kenya are said to be excited about the news because they can change citizenships and marry beautiful Eritrean women.

4. The government wholly supports polygamous marriages now in Eritrea

5. The penalty for refusing to marry at least two wives is life imprisonment with hard labour

There's an African country where polygamy is a must for men.

5 things to know about law that says men must marry 2 or more wives

Sometimes you see couples at the brink of a divorce due to problems arising from infidelity.

Emotional or sexual infidelities increase when carelessness enter into a marriages, this is one of the reasons for cheating.

ALSO READ: <a href="http://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/relationships-weddings/cheating-can-be-beneficial-to-your-relationship-expert-says-id7537538.html">How cheating can be beneficial to your relationship</a>

In successful marriages, couples understand that there's a tendency to cheat so they'll do everything possible to avoid that.

Inspired by YourTango, here are 5 reasons cheating is common in marriages:

<h3>1. When couple thinks they'll never get caught</h3>

The odds of cheating being found out has increased in modern times unlike before when it was easy. Once couples become careless, the thought of getting found out becomes the least of your concerns and it becomes easy to think no one suspects you.

<h3>2. The consequences of cheating has never occurred to you</h3>

Being betrayed by a partner isn't an easy thought to handle. The person you trusted is cheated and that spells doom for your marriage. No one really wants to go through that.

ALSO READ: <a href="http://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/relationships-weddings/7-commonest-reasons-why-people-cheat-id5592827.html">7 commonest reasons why boyfriends cheat</a>

<h3>3. You assume your spouse doesn't care anymore</h3>

Life could get in between your lives, children and jobs could hold your attention and you may not pay your partner any attention anymore. Couples should always try to clear out time for each other.

<h3>4. Infidelity runs in your family</h3>

If there's&nbsp;a history of infidelity in your family, you are more likely to tow that line than sticking to one person. Share your values with your spouse and know where you both stand on cheating.

ALSO READ: <a href="http://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/relationships-weddings/why-do-married-women-cheat-id6798957.html">Why married women cheat</a>

It's hard to resist temptation, but there are ways to resist&nbsp;temptation. Keep in touch with home whenever one of you is away.

5 reasons why cheating is common in marriages. [mmdt]

Emotional or sexual infidelities increase when carelessness enter into a marriage.

5 reasons why cheating is common in marriages

<h1>No successful relationship was built overnight, it takes a lot of work to have a strong relationship with your partner, siblings, parents, close friends or colleagues.</h1>

You'll meet a lot of people, there others who'll make a huge impact in your life and those you'll eventually let go of. Doesn't matter if you are single or married, there are certain ways to build these loving relationships with those who are dear to your heart.

ALSO READ: <a href="http://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/relationships-weddings/pressuring-people-to-date-needs-to-end-with-2017-id7710177.html">Pressuring people to date needs to end with 2017</a>

Inspired by All Women Stalk, here are 7 ways to build stronger relationships:

Do things that'll make you share a lot of laughter together. Create funny memories from your time together, it'll strengthen your relationship. This is particularly true for the romantic ones.

<h3>2. Discuss issues rather letting them build up: </h3>

No relationship is free from troubles but what makes it successful is how the people involved stand the test of time when trouble comes. Resentment arises when you begin to keep things to yourself.

ALSO READ: <a href="http://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/relationships-weddings/3-reasons-why-you-need-to-go-slow-in-new-relationships-id5750316.html">Why you should go slow with new relationships</a>

shared vacation not only brings you two together but creates special memories that'll be cherished forever, especially for couples. You'll end up feeling closer after a wonderful trip.

Make time out alone for that important person in your life. Doesn't matter if it's your partner, best friend or sibling, spending time alone with them brings you closer than ever.

ALSO READ:<a href="http://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/relationships-weddings/why-babes-shouldnt-feel-entitled-to-their-boyfriends-money-id7752384.html">About ladies &amp; that sense of entitlement to their boyfriends' money</a>

<h3>5. Do nice things for each other: </h3>

Making life easier for that special person in your life makes you more appealing. People build healthier relationships when they know they can rely on you.

<h3>6. Celebrate achievements together: </h3>

Sharing celebrations with people close to you brings you closer to them and creates wonderful memories.

Giving compliments brings you both closer and makes them feel great about themselves because you tell them exactly how they should feel about themselves.

Doesn't matter if you are single or married, there are certain ways to build these loving relationships with those who are dear to your heart

7 ways spouses can build stronger relationships

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Believe it or not, Africa is deeply rooted in religion, so much that it has a major influence on lifestyle, arts, culture and tradition of the people in the continent.

There are so many diverse religions practised in different parts of Africa including traditional religions which exists within particular tribes in particular regions.

According to a survey by Britannica.com and a compilation by&nbsp;<a href="http://afkinsider.com/34091/popular-religions-africa/7/" rel="noopener noreferrer">AFK Insider</a>, these are the most popular religions in the continent.

All affiliations of Christianity are included in one category for the purposes of this list: Roman Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Anglicans, Independent and non-affiliated Christians. Smaller sects are also included such as Unitarians, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, and Religious Science. But also prominent are sects of Christianity that are unique to Africa or most prominent on the African continent, such as Pentecostalism and other African-Christian denominations.

Mirroring the statistics of the rest of the world, the Muslim population in Africa is predominantly Sunni, but there is a large Shia population as well. Additionally, Sufism has a large presence, or a more mystical dimension of Islam that is sometimes considered its own philosophy altogether. Unsurprisingly, the largest pockets of Muslims live in Northern Africa, but the Horn of Africa, the Swahili Coast, and West Africa also have large populations. In comparison, very few Muslims live in South Africa, where Christianity and other traditional religions have a larger following.

<h3>3. Traditional African Religions</h3>

The indigenous religious beliefs and practices of African people include various traditional religions. It is difficult to generalize these indigenous religions due to the diversity of African cultures, but they do have some characteristics in common. Almost all are oral rather than scriptural, they include belief in a supreme being, belief in spirits and other divinities, veneration of ancestors, use of magic, and traditional medicine.

Traditional African religions have been passed down from one generation to another orally and can be found through art, rituals and festivals, beliefs and customs, names of people and places, songs and dances, proverbs, and myths. The extent of adherence to traditional religion in Africa is hard to estimate, due to melding practices with Christianity and Islam.

Though only one country in Africa (Mauritius) has Hinduism as its dominant religion, it has a strong presence throughout the continent that can be felt especially in East Africa. Initially taking root in the late 19th century following British colonization, Hinduism arrived with many Indians brought to Southern and Eastern Africa as indentured servants. Even after colonial rule ended, many facets of Indian culture remained, as did descendants of former servants. Indo-African communities are extremely common throughout the continent (particularly in former British colonies), and the Hindu community is continuing to grow.

Some of the largest populations of Bahá’í in the world exist in Africa, primarily in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Zambia, and Mauritius. While they have also have a strong presence in Egypt (the country where they were arguably introduced to the continent) and Northern Africa at large, political strife resulted in their rights being taken away as a religious group, and they have struggled since to regain their rights and societal standing. As a result, Bahá’í followers have flourished more in sub-Saharan Africa, where wide-scale growth made them the third-largest religion of the region.

Though many don’t consider atheism a religion, the high number of Africans who identify as atheists make it important to include in this list. Atheists are scattered throughout the continent in almost equal numbers,&nbsp;from those opposed to all organized religion to those who harbor some skepticism but still identify with certain sects of religion.&nbsp;The number of atheists is lower in Africa than in many other parts of the world, particularly the West and Asia.

Many of the Buddhist adherents in Africa are of Chinese, Vietnamese, or Japanese descent, again due to the high numbers of immigrants from those countries. While the largest Buddhist population on the continent lives in South Africa (somewhat surprising, given its geographical distance from Asia), it only makes up between 0.2 percent to 0.3 percent of the population — though it has been shown that this number is growing by the year. Other strong Buddhist communities exist in countries along the Indian Ocean, and Mauritius has a high Buddhist population as well. Confusing numbers have been shown for Northern Africa, given the high number of Asian workers, but it is unclear how many of these are permanent residents or citizens.

One doesn’t necessarily associate Judaism with a strong African heritage, but some of the oldest Jewish populations in the world can be found on the continent. Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews have a strong presence in Northern Africa, where thousands have been since the first Jewish diaspora, and many more followed after their expulsion from Iberia in the 15th century. Ashkenazi Jews live in South Africa, where many Lithuanians fled during the Holocaust, and strong Jewish communities grew up throughout the country, especially in Cape Town. Finally, small pockets of groups are scattered throughout the continent that have developed their own traditions, but are rooted in Jewish tradition and trace back to ancient Israel. For instance, the Beta Israel in Ethiopia and the Lemba in Zimbabwe and South Africa are both recognized as historically Jewish, though their practices may vary.

Chinese folk religions cannot be confined to one particular set of beliefs, as they incorporate many traditional Chinese schools of thought, including but not limited to Universism, Confucianism an neo-Confucianism, Daoism, and many more. Large minorities of Chinese immigrants live in South Africa and Mauritius, making up the majority of these communities, but, representing the diversity of the continent, they can really be found in every region.

Though it was introduced to the continent later as a result of immigration from India in the 19th century, Jainism has grown in Africa. Strong Jain communities exist in Kenya in particular — one of the first countries to receive Jain immigrants — and temples in Nairobi and Mombasa organize cultural and religious activities year round. While there had been a strong Jain community in Uganda, many were forced out as a result of Idi Amin’s policies, resulting in larger Jain populations in South Africa, Tanzania, and Sudan (although Sudan too has experienced an exodus of its Jain population, along with thousands more, as a result of conflict).

Top 10 most popular religions in Africa. [howafrica]

There are so many diverse religions practised in different parts of Africa.

Top 10 most popular religions in Africa

My sweet relationship is beginning to fall apart. Right now I don't know where we stand.

My boyfriend doesn't want me around him that much; he hardly talks to me even when we are together.

He is always busy with his phone; we don't hang out in public any longer.

He never apologizes even when he knows he hurt me. I still love him but I don't know how to win his heart back. What do I do?_________________

oge okonkwo

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